Blagojevich jury questioning drags into 4th day

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich arrives at federal court, briefcase in hand, as jury selection continues in his second corruption trial, Monday, April 25, 2011, in Chicago. Blagojevich who was convicted of one count of lying to the FBI in his original trial, faces 20 federal counts at his second trial, including allegations that he tried to sell or trade President Barack Obama's former Senate seat. As Blagojevich entered the courhouse he raised his briefcase towards the press area and said, "I'm working today." (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
— AP

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich arrives at federal court, briefcase in hand, as jury selection continues in his second corruption trial, Monday, April 25, 2011, in Chicago. Blagojevich who was convicted of one count of lying to the FBI in his original trial, faces 20 federal counts at his second trial, including allegations that he tried to sell or trade President Barack Obama's former Senate seat. As Blagojevich entered the courhouse he raised his briefcase towards the press area and said, "I'm working today." (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
/ AP

Sheldon Sorosky, attorney for former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, arrives at federal court as jury selection continues in Blagojevich's second corruption trial, Monday, April 25, 2011, in Chicago. Blagojevich who was convicted of one count of lying to the FBI in his original trial, faces 20 federal counts at his second trial, including allegations that he tried to sell or trade President Barack Obama's former Senate seat. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)— AP

+Read Caption

Sheldon Sorosky, attorney for former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, arrives at federal court as jury selection continues in Blagojevich's second corruption trial, Monday, April 25, 2011, in Chicago. Blagojevich who was convicted of one count of lying to the FBI in his original trial, faces 20 federal counts at his second trial, including allegations that he tried to sell or trade President Barack Obama's former Senate seat. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
/ AP

CHICAGO 
Questioning of would-be jurors in the retrial of impeached Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich resumed for a fourth day Wednesday, with the judge calling back some candidates to clarify their answers from previous interviews.

The first trial ended with a hung jury, with a single holdout juror preventing a conviction on several key counts. That outcome has emphasized just how vital jury selection is to both sides in Blagojevich's retrial.

In last year's trial, Blagojevich was found guilty of lying to the FBI. He still faces 20 charges, including allegations that he tried to sell or trade an appointment to President Barack Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat in exchange for campaign cash or a job after he left office.

Judge James Zagel had hoped to have a jury in place by the middle of this week. But he said the process is taking longer than usual because the case is high-profile and because it's the second time around for Blagojevich.

Zagel was asking some potential jurors Wednesday for clarification on whether their employers would pay them during jury selection and to verify the dates of upcoming travel.

He said he now expects opening statements to begin next week, later than initially thought.

About 35 people out of the several dozen Zagel has questioned so far remain in the jury pool. Zagel has said he wants 40 before making final decisions about the 12 jurors and six alternates who will sit in the jury box.

Among the candidates remaining are a Cook County prosecutor, as well as a self-proclaimed Republican who downloaded the ring tones of Blagojevich on secret FBI wiretaps and who believed Blagojevich was guilty.

The judge decided to keep him and others who said they formed unfavorable opinions of Blagojevich. Zagel said he accepted their assurances they could set aside any biases and weigh the case on the evidence alone.

The retrial is not expected to last as long as the first one - which spanned 2 1/2-months - in part because prosecutors have streamlined their case.